Choosing a Service
To start with, capabilities and online data backup services can vary widely. It may seem like all online backup services are pretty much the same, but sites distinguish themselves according to their intended audience. For example, Cdesirenite (*est. per year for unlimited storage) has been primarily geared toward the home user since its inception, providing a hassle free experience.
On the flip side of the spectrum is a company like Iron Mountain, which markets pretty much exclusively to businesses, although its home office (*est. 0 per year for 2 GB) and small business (*est. 0 for 30 GB for up to five users) options may also be appropriate for some individuals.
The majority internet backup services have client software (download and install) that allows users to access the service as if it were on their desktop, but the ease of use of each interface varies widely. Most people don't want to spend a lot of time configuring their backups, so unintuitive interfaces with too much fluff and hard to figure out are usually flagged by reviewers. Selected internet data backup services offer a certain amount of free storage space or a no cost trial period, which is a great way to try out their client interfaces to make sure you're comfortable with them.
Largely internet backup services have the same basic feature set. They allow you to either manually select an individual file to backup or schedule a full backup. Most do incremental backups, storing changes to a file already backed up on the system within a short time after the change is made (ranging from seconds to hours also called reversioning). Most services feature a fully automated backup procedure that kicks in when the system detects idle time or low processing activity on your computer, although services with further advanced features let you play around with these settings.
Online file sharing is a very convenient alternative to e-mailing large attachments, but that's a feature that only some online backup services providers offer. Online file sharing is convenient for businesses which need to share documents among remote users as well as for individuals who'd like to give a friend or relative access to photo or multimedia files.
Most internet storage services use at least 128-bit SSL encryption while documents are being transferred and another form of encryption to protect files hosted on servers. Increasingly popular is the option to pick out a private encryption key. This causes encryption to take place on your machine rather than on the service's servers, thus providing a higher level of security during transfers (very nice for the security conscious. However, if you lose or forget that encryption key, the backup service can't help you and you'll lose access to your stored files (yikes).
To further shield your files, most services keep backup copies of your files off-site in physically secure locations. Most services offer some form of file versioning, so if you delete a file by mistake or it becomes corrupted, you can retrieve a previous version to work off of. If this is an crucial feature for you, pay attention to the versioning limitations (usually by time period or number of versions saved).
Most experts agree that all computer owners should use some kind of backup solution to protect against data loss or corruption. Internet backup services can be a good alternative or complement to backups on CDs, DVDs or additional hard drives, all of which are subject to physical damage and may involve a time-consuming backup process. These online services allow users to store their most important or bloated files (such as music and videos) on a secure remote server. Some even allow file sharing with friends, family members or coworkers. Reviews warn that data backup online is not a replacement for traditional backup strategies, but it can be good secondary protection against unforeseen issues such as fire, theft or sudden hardware failures.
What to Look For
Data backup online services assist in protecting against hard drive failures and file corruption on your computer, and they can be less labor-intensive then the hardware solutions like burning CD's. These online services allow users to store their most important or bloated files (such as music and videos) on a secure remote server. Reviews warn that internet data backup is not a replacement for backups like using an external hard drive, but online services can be good secondary protection, although we find data backup online services to be a reliable and inexpensive solution.
Here's what experts say to consider when looking for an internet data backup online service:
* Lets start with interent line. If you have a slow internet line you probably don't want to consider and online data backup service. Although backing up small files would still be decent video and audio backup over a slow internet line would be painful.
* You may not want to store highly sensitive information on a website. Many reviewers note that data kept on a remote server, as is the case with an data backup online service, is more vulnerable to unauthorized access than data that's kept only on your own computer. For example, employees of the data backup online service could be able to access your files.
* Check the system requirements. Most online internet backup services come with an application (called a client) that manages backups and file transfers, but not all clients are compatible with non-Windows operating systems.
* Look for online data backup with automated scheduling. The best online data-storage services can relieve you of time spent on backup. Whether you schedule backups to take place hourly or daily, you should have a choice of full control or a hands-off automated task.
* Consider your Internet connection. Initial backups of large files can take hours or even days, even on a broadband connection, so it's best to perform large file backups at night. Keep in mind that subsequent backups are done incrementally, which usually isn't an issue when it comes to computer resources.
* Use other forms of backup. Online data storage saves time and space, but you should never put all your data eggs in one basket. Most services do not warrant that they can restore your data. Hardware, software and business problems are all risks. Consider alternatives such as CDs, DVDs, external hard drives and USB flash drives for primary storage.
Options for internet backup services
Although features and benefits vary from one company to another, most internet backup providers have the following features not available with traditional backups:
* Cost No capital outlay (payment on a monthly or yearly basis)
* No huge set up fees nor license fees
* No tape storage costs
* Low operating costs
Ease of use
* Setup and installation is generally simpler and completed within minutes of downloading the software
* Backups can run in the background and in parallel with users normal activities
* Current and historical data can be restored easily and immediately
* Easy and centralized management of all backups
Reliability
* Scalable
* Mirrored Data
* Protected against data loss due to sabotage, fire, theft, flood, virus or other disasters
* There is no worry over lost, damaged, or worn out tapes
* Better accuracy for budgeting and forecasting
* Increased compliance assurance
Convenience
* File sharing capabilities, if needed
* Remote web access to data anytime
* 24 x 7 x 365 data availability
* Extensive reporting for audits and verification
